Tepepul (gen. 8)

Christenson (2007: 298n850) señala los eventos ambientales y políticos significativos que ocurrieron bajo este Tepepul, que tomo el poder alrededor del 1475 CE, cuando, “una helada severa causo un hambre en la capital Cakchiquel de Ixmiche. Un espía informo a los K’iche’s de la debilidad resultante en las defensas de los Cakchiqueles y por un ano ellos prepararon sus guerreros para una invasión decisiva. Al final, Tepepul y Iztayul, acompanados por su Dios patron Tohil, marcharon sobre Ixmiche. Los Cakchiquels, sin embargo, habian sido informados del ataque y estaban listos para ellos:

Cuando salió el sol en el horizonte arrojo su luz sobre la montaña, estallaron los gritos de guerra y se desplegaron los estandartes: resonaron las grandes flautas, los tambores y la conchas. Fue verdaderamente terrible cuando llegaron los K’iche’s. Avanzaron rápidamente y sus filas se podían ver de inmediato descendiendo al pie de la montaña…entonces vino el encuentro. El choque fue realmente terrible. Sonaban los gritos, los gritos de guerra, el sonido de las flautas, el redoble de los tambores y las conchas, mientras los guerreros realizaban sus hazanas de magia.’ (Recinos and Goetz 1953, 103).

La derrota resultante de los K’iche’s fue un golpe devastador del que nunca se recuperaron por completo. Los Annals of the Cakchiquels reclama que más de 16,000 guerreros K’iche’s murieron en la batalla (Recinos y Goetz 1953, 103). Tepepul y Iztayul fueron hechos prisioneros, al igual que la imagen del dios Tohil. Los K’iches nunca más intentaron as altar la ciudadela de Ixmixhe, aunque los conflictos fronterizos y las intrigas cortesanas continuaron durante décadas.

Según apunta el lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 199n338) el nombre del líder de la octava generación de los Kaweq "provinene del náhuatl, tepetl 'montaña' (Kartunnen 1992) y po:l, 'grande' (Campbell 1983)."

Christenson (2007: 298n850) points out the significant environmental and political events that occurred under this Tepepul, who took power in the Kaweq lineage around 1475 CE, when “a severe frost caused a famine at the Cakchiquel capital of Iximche. A spy informed the Quiches of the resultant weakness in the Cakchiquels’ defenses and for a year they prepared their warriors for a decisive invasion. At last, Tepepul and Iztayul, accompanied by their patron god Tohil, marched on Iximche. The Cakchiquels, however, had been informed of the attack and were ready for them:

‘When the sun rose on the horizon and shed its light over the mountain, the war cries broke out and the banners were unfurled: the great flutes, the drums, and the shells resounded. It was truly terrible when the Quiches arrived. They advanced rapidly, and their ranks could be seen at once descending to the foot of the mountain… Then came the encounter. The clash was truly terrible. The shouts rang out, the war cries, the sound of flutes, the beating of drums and the shells, while the warriors performed their feats of magic’ (Recinos and Goetz 1953, 103).

The resulting defeat of the Quiches was a devastating blow from which they never fully recovered. The Annals of the Cakchiquels claims that more than 16,000 Quiche warriors died in the battle (Recinos and Goetz 1953, 103). Tepepul and Iztayul were taken prisoner, as was the image of the god Tohil. The Quiches never again attempted to strike the citadel of Iximxhe again, although border conflicts and court intrigues continued for decades.”

Tepepul first appears in the list of Kaweq K'iche' rulers in his association with Iztayul, in the sixth generation. Subsequent ruling generations share his name: Tepepul (who ascended in 1475) and Iztayub form the eighth generation, and Tukum and Tepepul are the ninth generation. Anthropologist Allen J. Christenson (2007: 293n849) explains the Nahuatl origins of the name of the ruler. According to Christenson, "This name is likely derived from the Nahua tepeuh (conqueror, majesty) and pul/pol (great), giving the reading 'Great Conqueror.' The Quiché word tepewal is 'glory, majesty, sovereignty.' Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Nahua tepe (mountain) with an augmentative suffix pul/pol (great, large) yielding 'Great Mountain' (Campbell 1983, 85)."